More than one million trips have already been made using contactless credit or debit card payment in New South Wales, 49 days after the service was rolled out to heavy rail services in November 2018.
The latest progression of the Opal ticketing system in Sydney and the wider Transport for NSW network, contactless credit and debit card payments were first trialled on ferry services last year.
In November the capability was enabled across the Sydney Trains and NSW TrainLink networks.
Just 49 days after that, the millionth contactless bank card trip was taken – by a commuter travelling between the domestic and international airports on Monday, January 14.
Transport and infrastructure minister Andrew Constance said there had been a significant uptake in contactless payments since the capability was expanded to heavy rail.
“Fares purchased through contactless payments have grown strongly payments have grown strongly since the trial expanded to our city and regional train services in November,” Constance said.
“Over the Christmas and New Year period contactless payments jumped by about 20 per cent a week. This convenient option is proving to be a real hit with tourists and visitors, with uptake at the airport stations twice that of other parts of the rail network.”
Tourism and Transport Forum chief executive Margy Osmond said compatibility of contactless bank card payments across the transport network was “an absolute winner” from the tourism industry’s point of view.
“The modern traveller expects great public transport which is easy to use and convenient,” Osmond said.
“Contactless is a fantastic option for foreign and domestic visitors to Sydney and encourages them to use our great public transport network and stay off the roads.”
Constance said there were no plans to eliminate Opal cards.
“Opal won’t be going anywhere and is still the most affordable way to pay fares,” he said. “This trial is about our Government providing greater flexibility and convenience.”